CNN
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The Justice Department has indicated plans to drop the federal corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, as revealed in a memo acquired by CNN.

In the memo authored by acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, a former New York prosecutor, directives were given to Danielle Sassoon, the acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District, to dismiss the charges “as soon as is practicable,” contingent upon several conditions, including a review following the November 2025 mayoral election.

The Justice Department made history last year by filing public corruption charges against Adams, a Democrat, marking the first prosecution of a serving mayor in the city’s contemporary era. Adams entered a not guilty plea, with the trial initially set for this spring.

Commenting on the development, Alex Spiro, an attorney for Adams and also legal representative for Trump ally Elon Musk, stated, “From the beginning, I maintained the mayor’s innocence — and today, he has prevailed.” Spiro further mentioned to CNN’s Kaitlan Collins that “an acquittal would have taken just 45 minutes.”

A representative from the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York refrained from commenting, while an official from Adams’ administration directed media inquiries to the mayor’s attorney.

The memo outlined two primary reasons for the dismissal request: the belief that the case has been unduly influenced by public scrutiny, and that its continuation hampers Adams’ ability to fulfill his duties as mayor.

“The ongoing prosecution has severely limited Mayor Adams’ capacity to concentrate on urgent issues such as illegal immigration and rising violent crime, challenges exacerbated by the previous administration’s policies,” Bove noted in the memo.

Facing reelection this fall, Adams was indicted in September on charges related to luxury travel benefits and soliciting illegal campaign donations from Turkish nationals in exchange for political favors, including urging city agencies to act favorably for the donors.

Adams has consistently denied any misconduct. Since his indictment, he has characterized the charges as politically motivated, stemming from his criticism of the Biden administration’s handling of a surge in migrant arrivals that began in spring 2022.

The memo also points out that it is noteworthy that Mayor Adams publicly criticized the previous administration’s immigration policies prior to the filing of the charges.

The trial was set to occur this spring, just ahead of the city’s Democratic primary, where Adams is contending with a crowded race of candidates.

For months, Adams has countered speculation regarding his potential withdrawal from the race. At a recent interfaith breakfast with local religious leaders, he dismissed suggestions of resignation, labeling them as “ridiculous.”

In recent weeks, several prominent Democratic lawmakers in the city have escalated their critiques, arguing that the mayor’s response to President Donald Trump’s policies, including an executive order to cut federal funding to non-compliant cities regarding immigration, has been lethargic.

Speculations about a possible pardon or the case’s dismissal had been circulating since October, shortly after the charges were filed.

Leading up to the presidential election, Adams exhibited some ambiguity, notably refraining from naming Kamala Harris when repeatedly queried about his electoral support for the Democratic nominee.

In October, Trump voiced support for the mayor, implying that Adams’ prosecution was politically motivated due to his critique of the Biden administration’s handling of the migrant situation.

“We faced persecution, Eric. I was persecuted, and now you are too,” Trump remarked during his speech at the Al Smith charity dinner in New York.

Adams, who identified as a Republican in the 1990s, attended Trump’s inauguration and visited him at his Mar-a-Lago estate last month.

Bove’s memo indicates that the DOJ is proceeding with its directive “without evaluating the strength of the evidence or the legal arguments underpinning the case,” and does not mention a potential pardon for Adams.

This story has been updated with further details.